Jan
19
Los Al drains overwhelmed? Rain’s over, water’s rising!
Filed Under 2010 Issues, Community News, News you can use
(1:50 p.m., 1/19/2010, Los Alamitos) Reporting from just west of Little Cottonwood Park: After one of the most intense downpours I’ve witnessed, it wasn’t surprising to see local streets filled above the curbs with water about a half hour ago.
Nor was it a surprise when the water began receding after the rain stopped.
What was a surprise was that the water levels began rising again, even though no more rain was falling.
I tried calling Los Alamitos City Hall to report the rising tide and seek some clarification, but couldn’t get through.
When I drove through Suburbia Estates around 1:30 the flood channel on the south side of Farquhar was filled to just about a foot under the bridge over it into Little Cottonwood Park. Police had traffic blocked off south of Howard.
My assumption is that as additional water entered the flood control channel from upstream, the channel reached capacity and water began flowing backwards through the storm drains onto the city streets. Kind of what happens when the main drain in your house is clogged & someone takes a shower upstairs: the water ends up overflowing the shower in the downstairs bathroom.
This has been a problem for over a decade in heavy rains. The flood control channel in question was being concreted in to help solve the problem, as well as reduce mosquitoes. Unfortunately, someone decided the dirt flood control was a wetlands, so work was stopped in the name of wetlands preservation.
That’s why the channel turns from concrete to dirt when it turns south from Farquhar just west of Rochelle, to flow southward on the eastern border of both Old Dutch Haven and Rossmoor Highlands.
I know former Council Member Alice Jempsa, who lives in Suburbia Estates, tried to get the work to resume without success.
I think it may be time for our Council and city staff to pick up Alice’s fight again.
It’s now 2:05 p.m., and the good news is the water’s started receding again.
The bad news is that tomorrow’s storm is supposed to drop two to four times the rain we just had.
I just hope that the whole southern section of Los Alamitos isn’t turned into a wetlands in the next couple days.
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6 Responses to “Los Al drains overwhelmed? Rain’s over, water’s rising!”
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you missed the flood just to the east of Lexington on Howard in Carrier Row. Cars backed up past Enterprise just waiting there for the water to recede.
There were floods like this all over OC today. If it weren’t for a death in the family we would not have gone out.
deepest condolences.
Lisa,
My Condolences too.
Tommorow’s storm will be worse than the last
two. Don’t travel unless you absolutely have to. There are sandbags(empty) at Fire Station 2 on Green. The sand to fill them with is located at the Los Al City Yard (access off of Oak), Seal Beach Fire Station 44 (8th and Central), Cypress and Stanton City yards. If you had flooding issues today it will be worse for Thursday. Get the sandbags ready before the storm hits if you need them.
I have to work tommorrow and hopefully, I won’t have to see any of you.
Lisa–
Sorry to hear of the passing of your family member. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.
Please try to get your driving for today done by early afternoon, or else stay put once the “big one” hits.
Weds AM drive to Brentwood… 45 minutes.
Weds drive home. Left Brentwood at 3:15, got home at ….. 6:45. Seems “lake”wood is properly named. Backup started just past the 91 and was roll-brake the entire way back (finally got off at Cherry and took “Katella” back otherwise I may still be there – felt like that old song from the Kingston Trio “Charlie on the M.T.A”
Did he ever return,
No he never returned
And his fate is still unlearn’d
He may ride forever
‘neath the streets of Boston
He’s the man who never returned. ).